(September 2016) Despite the national reform to revert to the 35-hour week across the public sector, trade unions are still having to fight to ensure all workers see their hours reduced from 40 a week. The STAL local government union organised a demonstration outside the Braga town hall on 19 September in protest at the mayor's decision to maintain the 40-hour week for workers employed by private contractors. The union plans further action if the local authority fails to implement the cut in hours. Meanwhile the SEP nurses' union is continuing its local actions around the country to secure the 35-hour week and other improvements in working conditions.
Fight for 35 hours for all continues
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Unions continue 35-hour fight
Public sector unions are continuing their campaigns to retain the 35-hour week in the fact of the government's attempt to impose a 40-hour week and what would effectively be a 14% cut in hourly pay. Hundreds of agreements have been negotiated and signed in local and regional government to retain the 35-hour week but the government has refused to officially publish the agreements. Read more at > STAL (PT) And at > SINTAP (PT)
Nurses' union continues campaign on 35-hour week
The SEP nurses' union reported 71% support for the start of its national day of strike action on 28 June. The action is the latest step in the union's campaign to ensure that all nurses benefit from the return to the 35-hour week promised to public service workers. The SEP is angry that the Ministry of Health has not only failed to recruit the required number of nurses to ensure that the 35-hour limit can be met but is proposing that new workers be employed on fixed-term contracts.
More unions in the fight for 35 hours
Three public service unions, including the SEP nurses' union, are taking strike action on 29 January as part of their campaign to defend the 35-hour week. The government attempted to impose a 40-hour week across the public sector over two years ago but met with widespread opposition. Unions have managed to negotiate hundreds of local agreements to retain the 35-hour week. In its action the SEP nurses' union is also highlighting the challenges its members face in trying to maintain services in the face of job cuts and increase sickness absence arising from the pressure of work. [Read more at >